Yearly Archives: 2011

Knabe Calls for Reform in Physician Payment Program

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to implement reforms to the Physician Services for Indigent Program (PSIP) on a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe.  Through the PSIP, doctors at private hospitals are compensated when patients cannot pay.

“The County is the ultimate safety net and our doctors are critical to ensuring that the neediest patients in LA County receive basic emergency care,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “We need to stop putting band-aids on a situation that requires real reform or we will be back to this same dilemma again next year.  We cannot continue to freeze payments and reduce rates – it is an insult to the doctors that we all depend on.”

Due to insufficient funding, exacerbated by the State pulling its support, the Department of Health Services froze its payments to doctors.  To address the immediate threat to the program, at its meeting last week, the Board approved a reduction in the rate paid to doctors, reimbursing them at twelve percent of the cost.

Through Knabe’s motion, the Director of Health Services will be authorized to reset interim payment rates going forward.  He has also been directed, with the assistance of the CEO and Auditor-Controller, to implement the remaining recommendations in the Auditor-Controller’s report of March 11, 2011.

“We must take the next step forward in improving our operations and how we manage emergency healthcare so that all residents of LA County who must visit an emergency room can expect the availability of services and quality they deserve,” said Supervisor Knabe.

Knabe Calls for General Relief Reform to Reduce Fraud, Help Those In Need

A motion by Supervisor Don Knabe on the Tuesday, October 18, 2011 agenda for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors calls for specific recommendations for restructuring the County’s General Relief (GR) program to reduce fraud and direct resources to those most in need.  The motion comes as the County has seen its caseload nearly double since January 2007.

General Relief is a state-mandated program that requires counties to provide assistance to indigent adults who do not qualify for other benefits.  Los Angeles County accounts for nearly 70 percent of the total statewide population receiving benefits.

In 2010 and 2011, on motions from Supervisor Knabe, the County began restructuring the GR program, with a focus on strengthening efforts to assist GR participants with accessing one of the two paths off of the program – employment or disability.  During the review process, it was learned that nearly one-third of the assistance payments were being made to individuals who were not pursuing either path, requirements for participation in the program.

“During these tough times, we have seen the caseload for General Relief rise dramatically, with an alarming cost to the County,” said Supervisor Knabe. “On top of these already sizeable demands on our system, the economic crisis has increased the number of people needing our services, due to a foreclosure or job loss.  Many families are using County services for the first time, desperate for help.”

“As a result, we have been more aggressive about ensuring that scarce taxpayer resources are properly used to aid those most in need and the results to date have been very positive,” Knabe continued.  “But we cannot ignore the fact that a huge number of program participants are not playing by the rules.  That simply isn’t fair to those who are actively seeking employment or moving onto disability.”

Earlier this year, the County’s Chief Executive Office and Department of Public Social Services developed a menu of options to reduce costs for administering the GR program, including verification of residency, increased case management and strengthening the sanction policy when GR participants refuse or fail to comply with program requirements.  Knabe called for further assessment of these options and am implementation plan.

Health Screenings and Counseling Available to Homeless Veterans at San Gabriel Valley Stand Down

Free health care, employment training, and other services will be available to homeless veterans as part of the San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans on Thursday October 20, 2011 at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, hosted by the San Gabriel Valley Veterans Employment Committee, will provide services to homeless veterans such as showers, haircuts, laundry, food, medical and mental screenings, and VA benefits counseling.

“This is an opportunity for us to help our veterans who cannot afford these services on their own,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Many of these Veterans returned home from fighting for our Country and were left to fend for themselves. This is a hand up, not a hand out, for those who have sacrificed so much for all of us. ”

For more information about the San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, contact Monica Mooring at Volunteers of America at 213-505-0631, or Ron Hansel at the Veterans Employment Committee at 626-347-2572. To make contributions and donations, call 213-505-0631.

Local High Schools to Clash in Ninth Annual Girls Knabe Cup

High school golfers from across Los Angeles County’s Fourth District will tee-off tomorrow, October 12, 2011, at Supervisor Don Knabe’s Ninth Annual Girls Knabe Cup Golf Tournament.

Twenty-five high school teams, comprised of four players per team, will compete at Lakewood Country Club in an individual and team tournament for individual honors and a chance to dethrone defending team champion Torrance High School.

“It constantly amazes me how the competition has gotten better and better as the years have gone on,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I am excited that this tournament is viewed as the precursor to the league and CIF Championships.”

The tournament, sponsored each year by Supervisor Knabe, allows student-athletes to engage in friendly competition, regardless of their high school’s respective league affiliation.  Each player receives a free lunch provided by McDonald’s, range balls and tee prizes.  Additionally, first, second and third place finishers receive trophies and windbreakers.  Supervisor Knabe will speak with players at 12:30 p.m., followed by the shotgun start at 1 p.m.

Knabe Calls for County Audit of Coliseum Commission

In a unanimous vote, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday called for the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller to audit the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission and, if necessary, to serve as the interim chief financial officer of the commission.

The vote, on a motion sponsored by Supervisors Don Knabe and Mark Ridley-Thomas, came after numerous allegations of financial mismanagement at the facility.

“We need to mobilize any and all resources to maintain the long-term financial stability of the Coliseum,” said Supervisor Knabe, who also serves as the Vice President of the Coliseum Commission.  “A thorough and complete audit will ensure that we get the Coliseum back on track and honor its history and the important role it will continue to play in the Los Angeles region,” he continued.

The motion would authorize the Auditor-Controller to play a temporary role at the Coliseum, but only if requested.

Since 1945, Los Angeles County has participated in the management of the Coliseum with the City of Los Angeles and the State of California through the Joint Exercise of Powers Act. The Joint Powers Act specifies the books of the Commission shall be open to the city, county and state partners.

No Vacancies at LA County Jails

On October 1, Los Angeles County will begin monitoring, tracking and incarcerating low-risk offenders, who were previously the responsibility of the State.  Referred to as “realignment,” the State is shifting responsibility to the local level, following a US Supreme Court decision requiring the State to reduce its prison population.

An initial influx of approximately 1,200 of these individuals will be transferred from State prison to County jails, with up to 1,000 expected each month thereafter.  Their paroles will be supervised jointly by Sheriff’s deputies and Probation officers.  While the State committed funding to the County for the next nine months, there are no guarantees that the Legislature won’t raid the funds, potentially leaving counties with the offenders but no resources to manage them.

The Legislature is essentially balancing its budget and reducing the State prison population on the back of local government.   While they claim to be providing funding, it is only a commitment for nine months.  The fact is there is ‘no room at the inn’ in LA County.  We cannot effectively live up to our new public safety responsibilities without the full partnership of the State.

The Governor recently said he is committed to putting a constitutional protection measure on the November 2012 ballot to ensure counties have the resources to manage these offenders on an ongoing basis.  The Legislature can place a measure on the November 2012 ballot by a two-thirds majority vote.  If that does not  move forward, I will join other county supervisors from across the state to support efforts to place a measure on the ballot by voter signature.  This will allow the voters of California to weigh in and constitutionally protect resources for public safety

Safe Surrender Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Families, firefighters, hospital staff and social workers joined Supervisor Don Knabe today at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration to recognize the 10th anniversary of the Safe Surrender program.

“I am overwhelmed and thrilled that we could honor this special day,” said Supervisor Knabe. “While it is difficult to ‘celebrate’ a baby be given up, when we consider what the alternative could have been, we recognize the courage it took for a mother, who found herself in a desperate situation, to make a better choice for her child.“

Families who have adopted safely surrendered babies, along with firefighters, hospital staff and social workers who have had a first-hand role in a Safe Surrender, were recognized by Supervisor Knabe for making the program a reality.

“The true heroes of Safe Surrender are the people who volunteer to become parents to the infants who have been surrendered,” said Knabe. “Families come in all shapes and sizes and if a child is born and raised in a home that is loving and nurturing, there is no better nest from which they can fly.”

During the anniversary event, Supervisor Knabe made a surprise announcement that the First5 LA Commission approved $500,000 to update, reinvigorate and increase the Safe Surrender program’s outreach efforts.

“As an agency charged with advocating for the health and safety of this county’s youngest children, I am very pleased that the First 5 LA Commission approved $500,000 to be used to implement a new county-wide public education campaign,” said Evelyn V. Martinez, chief executive officer of First 5 LA.  “It is crucial that we continue to keep the Safe Surrender Program in the spotlight, so parents know they have options.”

Established in 2001, the Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room, fire station or other designated Safe Surrender site, as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected. As of September 2011, 87 newborns have been safely surrendered.

Keeping Communities Together

By a vote of 4-1, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today adopted an amended Plan A-3. After the most open and inclusive redistricting process in the history of Los Angeles County, I am pleased that the Board of Supervisors was able to reach agreement after months of review.  I want to thank the thousands of people who came to testify, wrote letters, and sent emails.  Today’s vote reflects their voice as we maintain our long established communities and avoid unnecessary shifts of millions of people to new districts. In addition to meeting the letter and spirit of the Voting Rights Act, this plan preserves the relationships,  connections and service levels that have been built over decades.  It’s now time to move forward and address the challenges and issues we face in our County.

Marvin Braude Bike Trail Project Set to Begin

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works is set to begin work on a project to rehabilitate and improve the Marvin Braude Bike Trail.

The popular bike trail winds its way along the coast from Will Rogers State Park in Los Angeles, through the cities of Santa Monica, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, to Torrance County Beach in Torrance.

Phase I of the project includes the reconstruction of about two miles of asphalt and concrete sections of the trail and the sealing of other segments along a five-mile stretch from 45th Street to 1st Street in Manhattan Beach, and from Torrance Boulevard to Calle Miramar in Redondo Beach.

Trail users are advised that weekday access may be limited in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach within project construction zones, which will not exceed more than 1,000 feet in length. Detour signs will be posted to assist bicyclists and others in avoiding the construction zones. There will be no construction activity or closures on the weekends and the bike trail will be open.

The $410,000 project is being funded by the Fourth Supervisorial District Capital Improvement Funds. It is expected to be completed by the end of November.

For further information about the project, call Jolene Guerrero, Office Engineer, at (626) 458-4975.

Reward Extended For Information Related to Fatal Shooting in Long Beach

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe to extend the offer of a $10,000 dollar reward for information regarding a shooting in the City of Long Beach.

On Tuesday June 21, 2011, Pablo Ortiz, 35, was riding his bicycle in the 2100 block of East 14th Street in Long Beach. While the victim was riding his bike he was confronted by an unknown suspect who fatally shot him.

No one has been arrested in this case. Detectives have no leads on a suspect. Investigators believe it would be beneficial to offer a reward in this case which may prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward and provide information to identify the individual(s) responsible for this crime. They can remain anonymous.

Contact:

Long Beach Police Department – Homicide Detail

Detective Peter Lackovic (562) 570-7365

Detective Greg Krabbe (562) 570-5534

Main Office (562) 570-7244